If you’ve been vaping thinking it’s not as harmful as your regular cigarette, then study is about to prove you wrong
If you believe that e-cigarettes are less harmful, then you are fooling yourself–because smoking in every way is harmful for your lungs and heart. In fact, a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association proves how vaping is as bad for you as regular cigarettes.
“Many people believe e-cigarettes are safer than combustible cigarettes. In fact, most e-cigarette users say the primary reason they use e-cigarettes is that they think e-cigarettes pose less of a health risk,” says study author Jessica L. Fetterman, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, Boston.
“Meanwhile, the evidence from scientific studies is growing that e-cigarettes might not be a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes when it comes to heart health. Our study adds to that evidence,” Fetterman adds.
To reach this conclusion, Fetterman and her colleagues studied over 400 men and women, ages 21 to 45 years, who had not been diagnosed with heart disease or heart disease risk factors.
Smokers who shift to e-cigarettes have stiff arteries, says the study
Study participants included 94 non-smokers, 285 cigarette smokers, 36 e-cigarette users, and 52 dual users who smoke combustible cigarettes and use e-cigarettes.
Combustible cigarette smokers and dual users were older than non-smokers and e-cigarette users, while e-cigarette users were more likely to be younger, male, and white. All e-cigarette users were former smokers of traditional cigarettes.
“We studied measures of blood vessel function in e-cigarette and dual users who had been using e-cigarettes for at least three months. Most studies to date have looked at the impact of the acute use of e-cigarettes on blood vessel function measured right before and after use, whereas our study evaluated blood vessel function in chronic e-cigarette use among young, healthy adults,” Fetterman says.
The researchers found that former smokers who switched to vaping and dual users had an augmentation index similar to traditional cigarette users, which means that their arteries were just as stiff.
Fetterman says:
Stiffening of the arteries can cause damage to the small blood vessels, including capillaries, and puts additional stress on the heart, all of which can contribute to the development of heart disease.
There is no evidence that vaping is less harmful
The researchers also found that the cells that line the blood vessels, called endothelial cells, appeared to be equally as damaged whether people used e-cigarettes, combustible cigarettes, or both.
“The endothelial cells from e-cigarette users or dual users produced less of the heart-protective compound nitric oxide, compared to non-tobacco users. Their cells also produced more reactive oxygen species, which cause damage to the parts of cells such as DNA and proteins,” Fetterman said.
“Our study results suggest there is no evidence that the use of e-cigarettes reduces cardiovascular injury, dysfunction or harm associated with the use of combustible tobacco products,” she added.
She noted longer-term studies are needed to determine if vascular damage from e-cigarettes alone changes over time.
The bottom line?You need to quit smoking for good. While vaping might help with cessation, the truth is using them in the long term can damage your heart just as much as your regular cigarettes. So, it’s time to kick the (cigarette) butt and save your heart.